Press release

USA overcomes ambitious Korea in nail-biting clash

Matthew Anderson's performance in the third set helped turn USA's fortunes around as they picked up an edgy win over Korea

Florence, Italy, May 19, 2012 - USA picked up their first win of the 2012 FIVB Volleyball World League in dramatic style with a 3-2 (20-25, 18-25, 25-17, 25-23, 17-15) win over Koreain Florence, Italy on Saturday.

The match was started after a minute's silence following the tragic terrorist attack in Brindisi, southern Italy earlier on in the day.

Korea started well, illustrating that
their efforts against Italy on Friday was no fluke. The team
mentored by Park Ki-Won were ahead 16-11 at the second technical timeout in the opening set. Serves from US captain seemed to get the Olympic champions back on track,
but Korea closed the set 25-20.

Korea carried that momentum into the second set again with outside hitter Choi Hong-Suk putting on a superb performance. USA fell further behind at 21-18 before Korean setter Han Sun-Soo directed the attack with finesse, sealing the set 25-18.

The American block finally started to be effective but it wasn’t
enough to grasp the lead at the first technical timeout. However they wrestled back control at 14-13 and a remarkable Matthew
Anderson(86 per cent attack) led his team to
the first winning set at 25-17.

USA kept up their lead in the fourth at 6-3 and appeared to be dominant. But seven points in a row, with three Kim Yo-Han’s aces, saw Koreatake a surprising lead at 15-13. But the side lost focus and USA stole the set to take it to a tie-breaker.

The fifth set went back and forth with neither side gaining control. However the United States eventually found a foothold, snapping victory from the jaws of defeat.

Kim Yo-Han
was the best scorer of the match as he score 20 points for Korea, while William "Reid" Priddy scratched 19 on his tally for the victors.